THE TIMMINS (WAKE PARK) PROJECT

photo: www.thedailypress.com

In looking at this historical picture of Timmins, Ontario, it pains me to know how different it looks today. Gone are trees and parks, replaced long ago by bare sidewalks and parking lots. The city bares no shame in letting itself go. Of course there are greater forces at play here that certainly contributed to this decline after decades of economic turbulence. Still, the most damaging deficit our city will ever face is a lack of imagination and vision - it has been the collective will's failure to change the status quo for commonplace in this city. 

While I don't have all the answers, I do have at least one and that is to build Northern Ontario's first wake park in the heart of Timmins. We are talking about a real investment into this community for something that will pull people back into the city’s core, establish a new tourist attraction for the area, and promote an active lifestyle. 

We see incredible potential and a vision to help create a sustainable future for Timmins. By utilizing new technologies, innovative design, and upholding high environmental standards we believe a wake park works to enhance our public waterfronts in a very responsible and respectful manner.

As such, the Timmins Wake Park Project is more than just a good business idea or destination. It represents a movement to better this community, and to understand that the change we want to see in this community must come from within. There is no use in believing that outsider agencies are the answer - governments and multinationals DON'T LIVE HERE - BUT YOU DO.  

SO THINK COMMUNITY. ACT LOCALLY. We got this... 

Sincerely yours,

- J.B. 

Gillies Lake Summer 2014

BOWL-U 2013

Craig Bowl-U 2013 part. from craig beaulieu on Vimeo.

Craig Beaulieu is that dude who couldn't wait to finish high school and be on his way to Whistler. After filming with Alterna Films for the last few seasons with heavy parts in Elektro, Knockout, and 13 O'Clock, Bowl-U set out on his own last season with stops here in Ottawa and even back in our home town of Timmins, Ontario. ENJOY!

Lavigne Blvd. - Timmins, ON.

OLLIE PROP & JOE JITZU: MAKIN' MOVES

JUDGEMENT

After 6 weeks, I finally put together my edit for the upcoming "Rip Curl Judgement 2013" online video contest. It was a collaborative effort between myself and my good friend Craig McCallion. 

Having being one of the 12 invites for this year, I was humbled and super eager to get this project underway. I immediately called Craig and asked if he would put it together. Luckily for me he agreed to it, and from that conversation we knew already what the concept would be. 

Given that we both live a busy life between home, work, riding, and everything else in between; we understood the challenge in finding the time to pull this off - especially with already summer in full bloom. With limited opportunities, I chose my filming sessions wisely and focused on getting the shots I wanted to showcase. 

Needless to say that I did keep things pretty simple, and that's just the way it is sometimes. Let's just say that the video probably won't be garnering a video of the year nomination anytime soon, but I think the emphasis I place on style and quality will speak for itself. 

The edit will be released on September 3rd  as part of the Rip Curl Judgement 2013 contest on www.sbcwakeboard.com. 

But there will be a special screening this Thursday, August 22, 2013 at the KEE TO BALA (Muskoka, ON). This will be the official kick off to the 2013 Canadian Wake Championships so don't miss it if you happen to be in the Muskoka area.

*** 

SPECIAL THANK YOU:

Craig McCallion

Justin Bonney

Kelly Mascioli

Kelly Othmer

Mark J. M. (@ captivatecreativestudios.com)

Brandon

Eric Dionne (Top of the World)

Jeff McKee (Slingshot)

Nate Benson (Billabong)

Julien Derome

Babylon Nightclub

THE BOOMBOX DIARIES 08.08.13

BOOMBOX DIARIES
-music lovers unite-

HIP HOP + JAZZ + SOUL + FUNK + DANCE + POP

AUGUST 8th 2013 x BABYLON NIGHTCLUB 317 BANK ST.
19+ DOORS 11PM x 5$ AFTER MIDNIGHT ($3 before)
LIVE MUSIC x DANCE PARTY x DRINK SPECIALS

Featuring:

DJ ACRO (Ottawa)
TOP OF THE WORLD x NIXON x RAISED BY WOLVES

BRENDAN COLAMECO (Timmins)
DRUMMER EXTRAORDINAIRE (formerly of NEVEREST)

OLLIE PROP & JOE JITZU (Timmins)
JAZZY BEAR RECORDS

PORCUPINE FLOOD RAILS

My brother Justin sent me this photo from Timmins on Tuesday. Once a year this rail becomes possible due to high waters and spring time flooding on Porcupine Lake. Although there is no video footage, my bro said he had a great time hitting this thing both ways. Unfortunately for us, water levels are dropping quickly so looks like I'll have to wait another year before getting my turn!

(shout outs to the driver - TRAVIS DESORMEAUX)

Going public

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TIMMINS WAKE PARK - PROJECT **UPDATE**

*OFFICIAL STATEMENT*

Timmins Wake Park Sets Sight on New Location

Date: December 19, 2012

Written by: Johny Bonney

While the lakes and rivers have frozen over and summer remains but a distant memory, I'm still working tirelessly to bring a state of the art wakeboard facility to the city of Timmins.

The idea was originally presented to City Council on October 1^st, 2012. While everyone was very receptive to the project, concerns were raised that Gillies Lake might not be the ideal location for such a facility.

Again, a wake park is like a floating snowboard/skate park on water wherein the rider is pulled from shore to shore by an overhead electrical cable system, thus eliminating the need for a boat.

So in light of the Mattagami River Conservation Authority’s opinion that Gillies Lake would not be the ideal host site for a wake park, the search for a new site became necessary.  Fortunately the abundance of natural waterfront in the city of Timmins provided us with a few more options for a location that could satisfy everyone’s needs and concerns.

Kees Pols, General Manager of the MRCA, and city councilor John Curley, have been very cooperative and proactive throughout this process. By working together, two new sites have been identified and proposed.

The Timmins Wake Park Project is actively seeking to the White Waterfront Conservation Area at Porcupine Lake, as well as the old Uncle Buck’s Trout Farm ponds located on Highway 655 just passed Laforest Rd. Both locations offer their own benefits and advantages, and would be the next best thing to Gillies Lake.

However,there is still a lot of work to be done, but we remain confident that our efforts will come to fruition by July 2013 as scheduled. I will continue to work very closely with the MRCA, the city of Timmins, and the community in order to the find the best possible location for a wake park. I invite anyone with questions, comments, or concerns to please forward them to me directly at bonney.jonathan@gmail.com. 

Thank you.

the BOOMBOX wake park: coming soon?

The secret is out! Yes, I myself want to bring a wake park to my hometown of Timmins, Ontario. This past Monday I was given the opportunity to present to city council my plans to bring a cable park to Northern Ontario.

The project was very well received, although there remains some opposition for the proposed location at Gillies Lake. But with that said, I still believe we have taken a huge step forward in bringing this dream to fruition. 

Not sure where this will all lead to, but I remain very confident in my proposal enough to say be on the look out for Northern Ontario's first ever straight-line cable park set to open next summer!!

BACK TO LIFE. BACK TO REALITY.

On the road again tomorrow, next stop: TIMMINS.

"Making moves, not movies..." - K.C.

Ice Chest Butter Fields.

My brother Justin snapped this photo yesterday at our family cottage up in Northeastern Ontario. Can't wait for my next visit in three weeks, June 25th!! Shoooot'em!

"To Infinity and Beyond..." - Summer x 2011 NEW EDIT!!

Sometimes in looking back is to look forward. In gearing up for this upcoming summer, I thought it would be cool to look back at what was the epic summer of last. This video features footage that was almost forgotten but needed to be shared. Good times, cottage times, riding times, travel times, party times -- the best of times. 

Shot of the Summer? Pt.2

What: Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis)

Where: Ice Chest Lake, Timmins

When: August 6, 2011

Photo: Johny Bonney

newest feature at Ice Chest Lake

(sunday project: bank rail)